Fallout: New Vegas - Fall 2010

I find my resolve breaking little by little. But the bug reports and people talking about "the same magic" has me holding steady. I think I can hold till Christmas. I'd like to play now, but at the same time I don't want to be one of the unlucky ones that gets tainted by bugs and end up feeling like I wasted my money.

Vector wrote:

There are so many weapons available I feel a bit overwhelmed. I'll stick to my various pistols and rifles for the time being.

Nice impressions. And just to have something to look forward to down the road, the anti-material rifle is a hugely fun toy if a little slow and expensive to shoot.

BlackSabre wrote:

I find my resolve breaking little by little. But the bug reports and people talking about "the same magic" has me holding steady. I think I can hold till Christmas. I'd like to play now, but at the same time I don't want to be one of the unlucky ones that gets tainted by bugs and end up feeling like I wasted my money.

Apart from being able to read all the spoiler stuff in this thread (which I haven't done either since I refuse to finish the game yet) there's really no reason to buy it now. Mods keep getting put out, including some that promise to open up a lot more of the unused spaces; I'm sure DLC is on the way; and game performance can only get better. Well, unless they release some giant patch that makes save games incompatible or something, but then you will be glad you waited then too.

Vector wrote:

Really getting into the game. Once I dropped Boone as my primary companion (he was engaging before I could assess the situation)

I expect I'll drop him eventually too for this reason, but right now I find it to be a blessing. Boone often kills things before I even know they're there, and has saved my hide on numerous occasions. Once I find myself a good sniper rifle, and get my Guns skill up a bit more, then I'll reconsider my options (which at this point are 0, I haven't met anybody besides ED-E and Boone).

BlackSabre wrote:

I find my resolve breaking little by little. But the bug reports and people talking about "the same magic" has me holding steady. I think I can hold till Christmas. I'd like to play now, but at the same time I don't want to be one of the unlucky ones that gets tainted by bugs and end up feeling like I wasted my money.

I'll give you my Australian experience with bugs. 19 hours played. No CTD's. A couple of melee enemies clipping on geometry when trying to close on my sniper's nest (which makes things easier when playing hardcore/very hard), and one gecko inexplicably flying up into the air then falling from the great height to smash dead, into the ground in front of me. Very weird, but I could chalk it up to the wild wasteland, even though I'm sure it wasn't.

ahrezmendi wrote:
Vector wrote:

Really getting into the game. Once I dropped Boone as my primary companion (he was engaging before I could assess the situation)

I expect I'll drop him eventually too for this reason, but right now I find it to be a blessing. Boone often kills things before I even know they're there, and has saved my hide on numerous occasions. Once I find myself a good sniper rifle, and get my Guns skill up a bit more, then I'll reconsider my options (which at this point are 0, I haven't met anybody besides ED-E and Boone).

That's what I was at. I made a point to try and get more companion options. Guarnateed you'll run across another soon enough if you stick with the story. From that point onwards I started exploring a little more.

Speaking of the story, I find myself enjoying the story quests far more than F3. I actually want to complete it. In F3 I eventually got to the point where you find your dad then never touched another story mission.

My very first impression was that F3 was a better game with a better atmosphere. It definitely had a better atmosphere to begin with but I like what New Vegas has to offer far more.

Montalban wrote:
Vector wrote:

There are so many weapons available I feel a bit overwhelmed. I'll stick to my various pistols and rifles for the time being.

Nice impressions. And just to have something to look forward to down the road, the anti-material rifle is a hugely fun toy if a little slow and expensive to shoot.

I had a chance to buy it (would have had no caps for ammo though) but I'm pretty sure my strength isn't high enough.

I haven't read all of the thread so maybe this has been mentioned before but I was having some stuttering issues and resolved them by turning down the water multisampling, just in case someone else might be having the same issue.

I went to a speech therapist for my stuttering problems. Just sayin.

kyrieee wrote:

I haven't read all of the thread so maybe this has been mentioned before but I was having some stuttering issues and resolved them by turning down the water multisampling, just in case someone else might be having the same issue.

There's a dx9 dll mentioned upthread that a lot of people have had success with, myself included. Just drop it in your FO:NV folder.

The game redetects your graphics settings and apparently sets them fairly low for some reason, but I cranked everything back up to full and am running smoothly now.

One more thought. This feels like a Fallout game. Fallout 3 felt like an add one while New Vegas is much closer to the previous two. A big part of that is the design docs from Van Buren were used for New Vegas and when you have members from Fallout 1 & 2 working on it if you don't capture at least the essence of the originals you've missed the main draw.

Just started the game today. Still in Good Springs, but man I really loved how the game starts and feels a lot like Fallout 2. Gecko hunting, Xander Root and Broc Flower? Aww man, I just needed a crazy hermit loaded on 'shrooms

I'm really digging the new feel. Played Fallout 3 last week, to get a good grasp of what changed, and there's definitely, from the start, a clear message that it's a different thing. The Mojave desert feels cleaner and colder, although I found it to be a bit flat.

Spoiler:

When I went to the cemetery, it was dusk, almost night, I could already see the Strip in the far distance. What a really nice touch.

If I catch a Frank Horrigan reference, my head will blow up I'm going to take my time with this one. It feels really cool and inviting.

oMonarca wrote:

Just started the game today. Still in Good Springs, but man I really loved how the game starts and feels a lot like Fallout 2. Gecko hunting, Xander Root and Broc Flower? Aww man, I just needed a crazy hermit loaded on 'shrooms :)

Oh, you'll meet him soon enough...

There are a lot of references to 1 & 2 scattered around. For example, I ran across someone talking about President Tandi (first president of the NCR) and later I met someone who was a vertibird pilot during the battle of Navarro.

And when you get to where you can pick up Black Mountain Radio, there are a few references there you may find familiar.

tanstaafl wrote:
oMonarca wrote:

Just started the game today. Still in Good Springs, but man I really loved how the game starts and feels a lot like Fallout 2. Gecko hunting, Xander Root and Broc Flower? Aww man, I just needed a crazy hermit loaded on 'shrooms :)

Oh, you'll meet him soon enough...

There are a lot of references to 1 & 2 scattered around. For example, I ran across someone talking about President Tandi (first president of the NCR) and later I met someone who was a vertibird pilot during the battle of Navarro.

She was the pilot that crashed in Klamath.

I really need to stop reading this thread... it is not helping my commitment to not buy/play this until after the wedding stuff is dealt with.

Vector wrote:
tanstaafl wrote:
oMonarca wrote:

Just started the game today. Still in Good Springs, but man I really loved how the game starts and feels a lot like Fallout 2. Gecko hunting, Xander Root and Broc Flower? Aww man, I just needed a crazy hermit loaded on 'shrooms :)

Oh, you'll meet him soon enough...

There are a lot of references to 1 & 2 scattered around. For example, I ran across someone talking about President Tandi (first president of the NCR) and later I met someone who was a vertibird pilot during the battle of Navarro.

She was the pilot that crashed in Klamath. :D

I loved that! A huge grin went across my face when she said she crashed in Klamath. It's too bad that (Fallout 3 spoiler):

Spoiler:

We won't see Harold, since he's rooted to the DC area wasteland now.

I am officially and completely sold on this being my favorite Fallout game now. Last night I got to Camp McCarran, and went through the best sequence so far in the game:

Spoiler:

When you get into the Concourse and talk to Lt. Boyd, and she asks you to be the Bad Cop to interrogate the captured Legion soldier. OMG, that was so awesome, particularly when I busted out my 8 Intelligence and actually spoke in Latin to him. So much awesome, I want to see more of this.

I just got to McCarren. Picked up a few quests. Done two of them. On my iPhone so I can't see your spoiler but I too have loved both of the quests.

In general there is a lot more to do than in F3. I pick up at least three quests per town. And those quests lead to more quests.

I ran into my first annoying glitch. It's about the NCR Correctional Facility.

Spoiler:

I'm currently vilified with the Powder Gangers. I'm supposed to be able to gain access by donning a Powder Ganger uniform then paying my way in. I can do this fine but if I wait about 1 second Dawes turns hostile and attacks. This doesn't turn the rest of the place against me. Most of the unnamed don't mind. The same thing happens to Hannigan, Eddie, and all the guards in that building. Not sure how I'm going to get around this other than skipping the two quests in there.

Vector wrote:

I ran into my first annoying glitch. It's about the NCR Correctional Facility.

Spoiler:

I'm currently vilified with the Powder Gangers. I'm supposed to be able to gain access by donning a Powder Ganger uniform then paying my way in. I can do this fine but if I wait about 1 second Dawes turns hostile and attacks. This doesn't turn the rest of the place against me. Most of the unnamed don't mind. The same thing happens to Hannigan, Eddie, and all the guards in that building. Not sure how I'm going to get around this other than skipping the two quests in there.

I'm pretty sure disguises only trick grunts.

Vector wrote:

I ran into my first annoying glitch. It's about the NCR Correctional Facility.

Spoiler:

I'm currently vilified with the Powder Gangers. I'm supposed to be able to gain access by donning a Powder Ganger uniform then paying my way in. I can do this fine but if I wait about 1 second Dawes turns hostile and attacks. This doesn't turn the rest of the place against me. Most of the unnamed don't mind. The same thing happens to Hannigan, Eddie, and all the guards in that building. Not sure how I'm going to get around this other than skipping the two quests in there.

Spoiler:

easily solved by some good old fashioned murder. More seriously you have to know that you wont be able to do every quest in the game

PandaEskimo wrote:
Vector wrote:

I ran into my first annoying glitch. It's about the NCR Correctional Facility.

Spoiler:

I'm currently vilified with the Powder Gangers. I'm supposed to be able to gain access by donning a Powder Ganger uniform then paying my way in. I can do this fine but if I wait about 1 second Dawes turns hostile and attacks. This doesn't turn the rest of the place against me. Most of the unnamed don't mind. The same thing happens to Hannigan, Eddie, and all the guards in that building. Not sure how I'm going to get around this other than skipping the two quests in there.

I'm pretty sure disguises only trick grunts.

That makes sense it's just a bizarre presentation of it. The guy who lets me in suddenly becomes hostile right afterwards.

And Fedora, duh.

PandaEskimo wrote:
Vector wrote:

I ran into my first annoying glitch. It's about the NCR Correctional Facility.

Spoiler:

I'm currently vilified with the Powder Gangers. I'm supposed to be able to gain access by donning a Powder Ganger uniform then paying my way in. I can do this fine but if I wait about 1 second Dawes turns hostile and attacks. This doesn't turn the rest of the place against me. Most of the unnamed don't mind. The same thing happens to Hannigan, Eddie, and all the guards in that building. Not sure how I'm going to get around this other than skipping the two quests in there.

I'm pretty sure disguises only trick grunts.

Yeah I think that might be the reason too.

The pulse gun is awesome. Fear me, Brotherhood d-bags!

IMAGE(http://cdn.themis-media.com/media/global/images/library/deriv/26/26784.jpg)

Oh that is brilliant.

Alien Love Gardener wrote:

Oh that is brilliant.

Oddly enough I saw a pair of bramin merchants going down the road, one walking on its two front feet with his face in the group and one on its two rear feet with the other in the air. At some point they must have decided that was ridiculous and both righted themselves and started to walk normally.

Then I turn around and proceed to waste several clips in a soldier fire ant until I get about 2 feet from him and realize that he isn't going to take damage or do more than turn to face me and make angry noises. Then Veronica punched him in the face.

PandaEskimo wrote:
Alien Love Gardener wrote:

Oh that is brilliant.

Oddly enough I saw a pair of bramin merchants going down the road, one walking on its two front feet with his face in the group and one on its two rear feet with the other in the air. At some point they must have decided that was ridiculous and both righted themselves and started to walk normally.

Then I turn around and proceed to waste several clips in a soldier fire ant until I get about 2 feet from him and realize that he isn't going to take damage or do more than turn to face me and make angry noises. Then Veronica punched him in the face.

As funny as the comic was - it was your story that made me laugh out loud.

I luckily haven't had any game killing bugs, but the number of little ones and the atrocious companion AI is ridiculous. Obsidian really should be embarrassed to have released it in this state.

Vault 11 was very good.

Sort of spoilers:
I think that this piece of the game works well for several reasons. One is that it is based on, or inspired by, two pieces of common culture that people to this day have a strong reaction to. I've listed these below, which are pulled from the fallout.wikia.com page on Vault 11. By using these themes, Obsidian has woven their own story with proven themes and ideas to create something that both gives the same feel as those older works and ads new twists.

As a narrative, the player is presented with various pieces of the story which take on new meaning when each new piece is revealed. This lets the player revisit those pieces both as they descend into the vault and then as they come back, doing what lots of great story telling does, revealing more through repeat viewing / reading / etc.

As a game, the story is presented in a fairly good way. A lot of the pieces of the story are left for the player to discover. In a written story, the author would call out these areas in the writing. In the game, the player can revisit rooms and notice things that they weren't looking for before. This also means that there is a lot of down time in the vault where the player can go around into many rooms with really nothing of importance to find. In a way, this downtime enhances the moments when you do find these hidden pieces of the story since you had to search them out, but on the other, they are sort of boring, having again looked in generic room 207.

I think that only Point Lookout had a similar level of storytelling present. It is a shame that Vault 11 is so far hidden from the main story that I didn't encounter it even though I practically walked past during my first play through. There were certainly moments in New Vegas that came close to that area, but Vault 11 really did come together. If these companies can figure out how to trim down the quests to focus on these great ones and make them easier to find, I feel it goes a long way towards making something great.

In both Fallout 3 and New Vegas, I felt like I need to comb through a forum thread and the fallout.wikia.com archive in order to find the great content that's hidden in these games. That's a shame.

Spoilers:

Spoiler:

It seems the story was mostly inspired by the Milgrim experiments and The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, a short story where every year members of a small town draw a lottery and randomly sacrifice one member in order to get a good harvest.

I particularly liked the posters. The posters reveal more and more meaning as you progress through the vault. I had guessed most of the plot of the vault upon entering the first room and seeing the posters. This could have been because of having read The Lottery in school and learned about the Milgrim experiments a good deal.

At first, the player notices the posters as campaign posters. They then notice that the candidates are trying to dissuade people from voting for them. Some of these are more obvious, and some less. For example, "I hate Nate" could be either a negative ad against an opponent or against yourself. Once the player understands the true meaning of these posters, they then start to see "I hate Nate" turned to "I hate Kate" in red paint. This hints at a sudden shift at some point towards this Kate character.

I think the way the logs are encountered and the way characters are named presents the player with too much information to take in, but enough so that when names start to reappear, they know to re-read logs and find out things like the fact that Kate was Nate's wife. That Nate was elected for a certain reason. That Kate became the overseer and that her election was caused by a sudden event. You also learn of a criminal trial and learn that Kate was involved. None of this is spelled out at the beginning, although as you progress, they make it more and more obvious.

You then learn about the founding of the vault and the development of the factions and reasons for the civil war.

Finally, you revisit the characters who you first learned about. The ones who have committed suicide at the vaults open door. The story brings new meaning to those characters through the final logs in the computer that present the other half of the dialog. Even better, the player is forced to revisit this location before exiting the vault, stepping over skeletons that may have previously been ignored. Looking more closely, you can notice that there is one fewer skeleton than there should be, meaning that one of those involved in the suicide pact did not follow through with the plan.

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Vault_11

Regarding Vault 11:

Spoiler:

The sacrificial chamber was almost scary good as a topping point for your journey through that place. Thankfully I had the pulse gun, or I would've been the next sacrifice.

Clawstand! Bwahahaha. Thanks for sharing that EriktheRed.

So far the game has been stable for me; the main issues I've had are related to the audio engine. Some things (certain boxes and doors, and, rarely, weapon fire) have no sound effect at all, which is a bit disconcerting. Playing around with codecs, I managed to get the ambient music working (which is quite good), and the radio stations working. but it makes all of the in-game placed radios pop and click like crazy.

The AC3filter helped with the music issue; it also stopped the crash-on-exit errors I was having.

Here's something impressive. This guy finished the entire game without ever firing a single shot. He didn't kill a single person or critter at any point.

I'm not sure I'm that dedicated myself, but an impressive achievement nonetheless.